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Residence permit medical treatment

Last update: 18 December 2023

You need a residence permit for medical treatment in the Netherlands. This is also the case if you want to stay in the Netherlands on medical grounds after postponing your departure for 1 year (Section 64 of the Dutch Aliens Act, in Dutch: Vreemdelingenwet). Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Requirements

These requirements apply to you.

  • The Netherlands is the most appropriate country for the medical treatment required. This means that a certain medical speciality is only available in the Netherlands that is not available in your own country.
  • The medical treatment is necessary according to the Dutch Medical Advisors Office (BMA) of the IND.
  • The healthcare institution is available for your medical treatment.
  • You have healthcare insurance that covers the treatment in the Netherlands. You do not use public funds to pay for this insurance and the costs of the treatment.
  • You have or the person who pays for your stay in the Netherlands has independent, sustainable and sufficient income.
  • You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone. You do not need to have a valid passport or other travel document if you are in this situation.
    • You are in the Netherlands.
    • Your identity and nationality are sufficiently clear. The government in your country of origin has no doubt about your identity and nationality.
    • You can only get a new passport if you go to your country of origin yourself.
    • A medical emergency will happen if you stop your medical treatment.
    • You cannot be treated for your disease or symptoms in your country of origin. Or you have no access to medical treatment there.

Extra requirements for medical treatment after postponement of departure (Section 64 Aliens Act)

After postponement of your departure for 1 year (Section 64 of the Aliens Act), you want to stay in the Netherlands on medical grounds. In that case these extra requirements apply to you .

  • You received postponement of your departure for 1 year or more under Section  64 of the Aliens Act (Vw).
  • You are still being treated for your disease.
  • No treatment exists in your country of origin for your disease or symptoms. Or you have no access there to medical treatment for your disease.
  • You apply immediately after postponement of your departure for 1 year. Submit the application in the period between 28 days before and 28 days after the end of the year of postponement of departure.

The requirements for income and payment do not apply to you.  

Surinamese with a visa for medical treatment

Do you have the Surinamese nationality? And are you in the Netherlands with a visa for medical treatment? You can extend your stay after 6 months with a residence permit for medical treatment, if the medical treatment is still necessary. You must also have arranged the payment properly. 

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

Show details Hide details
  • 1. Check requirements
  • 1. Check requirements
  • 2. Collect documents
  • 2. Collect documents
  • 3. Apply
  • 3. Apply
  • 4. Pay for application
  • 4. Pay for application
  • 5. Wait for decision on application
  • 5. Wait for decision on application
  • 6. Decision on application
  • 6. Decision on application
  • 7. Collect MVV and travel to the Netherlands
  • 7. Collect residence permit
  • 8. Collect residence permit

Application forms

Written application forms

Written application forms

The residence permit 

What else you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment: 

Appendix TB test referral form 7604(PDF, 230.36 KB)

Working with the residence permit

With a residence permit for medical treatment, you are not allowed to work in the Netherlands. It says in Dutch on the back of the residence permit: work not allowed (in Dutch: arbeid niet toegestaan).

Legal obligations

You have an obligation to provide information. This means that you must notify the IND of changes in your situation. Find out more about your obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not you can get an administrative fine.

Validity of residence permit

Your residence permit is valid for the entire period of your get medical treatment. The residence permit is valid for 1 year at most. 

Residence permit sometimes valid for 5 years

The IND can grant a residence permit for 5 years in the following situations: 

  • The availability of the medical treatment in the country of origin is unknown. The BMA has concluded this 5 years in a row. This concerns a general situation.
  • Your necessary medical treatment is not available in the country of origin. The BMA has concluded this in 3 successive individual medical advices.

Other applications

Replace residence permit

Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page  residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend residence permit

Will your residence permit expire soon? And you still get medical treatment in the Netherlands? Then you can extend the residence permit.

Apply for a different residence permit

Have you had a residence permit for medical treatment for 3 years? Then you can change your residence permit to the residence permit ‘humanitarian non-temporary – continuation of residence’.